The BACKYARD BIRD COUNT is now over for 2020.

The count started at 8AM on April 21st. Below are our three big numbers: the number of checklists, the number of birds and the number of species! Thank you everyone for submitting your observations!

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿

The Event:

Earth Day, April 22, is an international day to celebrate and care for our planet. During this time of social distancing, getting outside and connecting with nature is very important.

We know that many of our students will want to do something on this special day. To help families get outside safely, the Waterloo Region District School Board’s Outdoor and Environmental Education Department is organizing a Backyard Bird Count. Counting birds can be done easily from a backyard, balcony or window. With a few simple resources, everyone can enjoy a bit of nature this Earth Day and do something to help Waterloo Region’s beautiful birds.

The Backyard Bird Count is a three-day event that engages students of all ages in the WRDSB. It creates a real-time snapshot of the birds that live here, showing us how many there are and where they live.

Anyone can participate, from beginners to experts. You can count for as little as 15 minutes on a single day, or for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun and easy – and it helps the birds!

The Backyard Bird Count is modelled after the “Great Backyard Bird Count,” an annual event run in February, jointly sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon and Canadian partner, Birds Canada.

THE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

Who: Anyone in the WRDSB can participate.What:Count what birds you see, how many (best guess), and where (Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, or Township).Where: From your backyard, balcony, porch or window!When: 8AM on April 21 until 4PM on April 23.How: Submit your results electronically using this google form. See results live on our website at …. Share pictures via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. #WRDSBbirdwatch

All participants that submit observations will get a certificate of appreciation from our OEE Department.

To help prepare students for this fun activity the Outdoor and Environmental Education Department has prepared a few resources for our students. Below are suggestions that will help make the count a success for all.

Here is an ID Chart if you would like a resource to help direct your observations. You can find a printable version on our Print Resources page.

If you have any problems preparing for the count or difficulty submitting your observations please use the form below to contact us directly. You may also use this form to ask us other bird or nature related questions.

Loading…

This information expires once printed. Please always refer to the online version for the most current information.